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Access to medical marijuana of concern to Western Massachusetts residents during hearing at Holyoke Community College

medical marijuana

Massachusetts voters approved the legalization of medical marijuana through a ballot question in November 2012. Civil and criminal penalties were eliminated for the use of marijuana by people with cancer, Parkinson's Disease, AIDS and other serious conditions, and now the state is working to figure out how to best implement the significant change in law. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)

HOLYOKE- Lorraine Kerz’ son Silas Bennett was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer just four days before his 29th birthday in 2008.

Medical marijuana relieved the symptoms of his chemotherapy and improved his quality of life in the months before his death, she said.

Kerz, of Greenfield, was one of around 200 people who attended a listening session on the development of medical marijuana regulations held Wednesday at Holyoke Community College.

Rachel Neulander, of Amherst, speaks during the public forum on medical marijuana at Holyoke Community College Wednesday. (Staff Photo by Dave Roback)

A panel of six public health officials led by interim Public Health Commissioner Lauren Smith listened as residents, advocates and many people applying for a dispensary license voiced their opinions about future regulation of medical marijuana.

Medical marijuana in Massachusetts became legal on Jan. 1 under a ballot question approved by 63 percent of voters. The the state public health department now has until May 1 to issue regulations to guide the use and availability of medical marijuana for people with certain medical conditions.

Under the law the regulations would include rules for the use of medical marijuana including registration cards for patients, the definition of a 60-day supply allowed under the law and establishing procedures for the operation of up to 35 nonprofit dispensaries for the drug.

Kerz said the marijuana helped alleviate her son’s nausea as well as calm his anxiety.

“He was able to go out more often and enjoy the company of family and friends…it was something he could take without any negative side effects,” she said.

Daniel Lan, a resident of Western Massachusetts for nearly 40 years, said medicinal marijuana has helped him deal with the many symptoms associated with cerebral palsy which he was diagnosed with at birth.

Rachel Neulander of Amherst speaks during the public forum on medical marijuana at Holyoke Community College on Feb. 27, 2013. (Staff photo by Dave Roback)

Matthew Allen, executive director of the Massachusetts Patient Advocacy Alliance, read Lan’s comments for him at the listening session.

“Marijuana alleviates the tension and rigidity in my muscles which in turn bolsters my self assuredness when I attempt to do physical tasks I could not have done before,” he said.

Lan, like many of those who spoke, is concerned about hardship cultivation, which would regulate whether people can grow marijuana in their homes if they can not afford to purchase it in a dispensary.

“My concern is that the department considers people like me on a fixed or limited income when considering regulation,” he said.

Marisa Hebble, a representative of the Northampton Prevention Coalition, said while the group is not against medicinal marijuana it urges the panel to seriously consider regulating the use of medical marijuana by teens.

Hebble said the adolescent brain is susceptible and marijuana use directly affects the brain particularly the parts responsible for memory, learning, attention and reaction time.

“Almost 60 percent of new marijuana uses are under the age of 18 , 1 in 6 become addicted,” she said.

She said a study conducted in Colorado, where medicinal marijuana is also legalized, shows that 74 percent of users under 18 reported using someone else’s medical marijuana an average of 50 times.

“We urge you to develop regulation with youth in mind at every step. It’s important that the harms caused by marijuana use be considered as well as the benefits,” she said.

Wednesday’s listening session was the last of three held throughout the state.